It’s an act also not selling like it used to. People are backing away from Chief Zee these days.

He once made $1,500 for a two-hour personal appearance in Richmond with Bruce Smith and Art Monk. Now it’s down to Greene Turtle in Olney on game day for “a few dollars and dinner.”

“Back then, the players would call me and say, ‘You want to do this, you want to do that,’ and they would get me paid on their appearances. But the new players, it don’t make no difference. That’s all right. I ain’t got no problem with that.”

He shows you a small gold ring with a three-millimeter black-and-white face inside it. “That’s my Mama’s mama, a full-blooded Seminole Indian,” says Williams, adding that she died when he was 3 years old. He can’t find any documented proof but says he is looking into it. (“I heard that,” Derrick says, a tad skeptical. “I don’t know about that, though.”)

Williams is told his predicament now does have similarities to the man known as the last wild Indian.

“Who’s that, Geronimo?”

No, his name was Ishi. Starving after his tribe and family had been killed, he emerged from the Northern California wilderness in 1911 to a modern culture he could not fathom or adapt to. Within five years, his immune system failed, and he died of tuberculosis.

Chief Zee is dying, too. Zema Williams just doesn’t know it. And as you spend time with this warm, old man who hugs you and tells you “God Bless You” after every exchange on the phone or in person, you don’t have the heart to tell him to his face.

“One little Indian, two little Indian, three little Indians,” he hums, chuckling. “I’m a dying breed, all right — the last person representing a team where you can actually see my face. The rest of ’em is all cartoon characters.”

He has to go back to Veteran’s Hospital for his cataract Wednesday. As long as he can see through one eye, he will be there Monday night.

“I feel like I’ll know when it’s time,” Zema Williams says. “I’m not changing. I can’t. I came in this way. I’m going out this way.”

Should Redskins Mascot Chief Zee Know Better Because He's Black?

In yesterday'sWashington Post,a story appeared about Chief Zee, the African-American Redskins fan who has been the team's semi-official mascot for 35 years. The profile was written by Mike Wise, a clear advocate of changing the Washington team's name and a thorn in the side of the fans who are dead-set against the change.

The profile wasn't kind to Chief Zee, whose real name is Zema Williams. Here are some of the zingers from Wise:

• "[Chief Zee's] one-man, self-anointed tribe is nearing extinction."

• "In some ways, it’s as if Archie Bunker or Amos and Andy were hurled forward in time, not sure what to make of all these hypersensitive, politically correct folk who want them gone."

• "Trying to enlighten him is like trying to enlighten your half-cocked, old-head uncle who uses racial epithets at Thanksgiving dinner. At some point, you either let him eat or kick him out."

• "Chief Zee is dying ... Zema Williams just doesn’t know it."

• "[Redskins owner Dan] Snyder and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell have grandfathered in Chief Zee, tone-deaf to the caricaturing of an ethnic minority."

It's that last one (we've listed them out of order) that brings up a touchy issue. Wise's story is rife with remarks that could be taken as playing on stereotypes of black Americans. On the ever-lively Washington Post comments section below the story, Zee's defenders are calling the article a racially-charged hit piece on a "sick old man" (Williams is undergoing cataract surgery) whose intention has always been to "make people smile." Zee's critics counter that one ethnic minority parodying another (Zee freely uses the word Injun) is old-timey minstrelsy times two.

We recommend reading the entire piece ("Chief Zee, the Redskins, and the Setting Sun"), which is well-written -- is Wise cruelly mocking a 72-year-old man and even playing the race card? Or should Zema Williams know better than to put on the redface becausehe is black, and is his treatment by Wise turnabout and fair play?

ghwelker

Believe in the beauty and strength our your own being. Forget the foolish belief that you and your fellow human beings were born evil. Those who would control

Message 42 of 42
, Dec 17, 2013

"Believe
in the beauty and strength our your own being. Forget the foolish
belief that you and your fellow human beings were born evil. Those who
would control you all the days of your life on earth perpetuate the
belief iihtsipaitapiiyo?pa (Source of Life) made things to have a bad
spirit.

Live a life of
truth and honesty. This makes you a person of quality and dignity.
Truth and honesty are the kind of leadership qualities that attracts
others.

Give honor and
respect to others regardless of age and situation in life. This quality
makes you and others worthy of honor and respect, which makes others,
feel worthwhile and fulfilled. Honor and respect empowers others so
they can win the day. They will return it to you fourfold.

Honor the earth
and all that exists. Be strong in this belief and practice it
throughout your life because it makes for a world of kindness that
binds all the good things of life together in a circle of harmony.

Be humble but
not timid. To be humble is to connect yourself to the stars and the
entire universe and makes you aware there is something unique about
life that is to be enjoyed without fear. We are people from the stars
and because of it we are sacred.

Help others
realize that life is a dream . . . . A beautiful dream. Dreamers are
the butterflies of life and help others to realize their dreams.

Be humorous and
help others to enjoy life and the life of others. Humor makes you
attractive. The humorous person has many guests and the one who is
invited everywhere because of the joy they bring to the gathering.

Never be afraid
to talk matters over with those you disagree with or those you love.
The gift of language is a miracle and it is meant to be used to live a
life of harmony, joy, love, and respect. Use it well and use it often.

What is
described here is leadership and happiness in the broadest sense. These
are the qualities that make for a great father, grandmother, mother,
teacher, grandfather, lover, traditional leader, friend and a great
human being. Best of all you can add to this list."